Governor agrees with Supreme Court decision on absentee balloting
The ACLU is claiming victory in a Supreme Court decision, but Gov. Bill Lee thinks the state took the right step in fighting universal absentee balloting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sam Stockard
Reporter
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
There are 1058 articles by Sam Stockard :
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August 2020
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State Government -
Elections Gillespie, Salinas will vie for state House District 97 seat
A showdown is brewing for the state House District 97 seat between Republican John Gillespie and Gabby Salinas, who narrowly lost a state Senate race in 2018.
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Elections Cohen wins primary handily, faces Bergmann in November
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen cruised to a win Thursday, Aug. 6, in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, beating out two challengers entering the November election against two independents and Republican Charlotte Bergmann.
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State Government Indicted Robinson leads Shelby delegation in out-of-state travel
Indicted for allegedly taking more than $600,000 from her federally-funded business for personal expenses, state Sen. Katrina Robinson traveled extensively with taxpayer money to legislative conferences in her first year as a state lawmaker.
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Analysis
ElectionsBradshaw upsets political world with U.S. Senate primary win
Memphian Marquita Bradshaw caught the political world by surprise Thursday, winning the state’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and spending only a fraction of the money that frontrunner James Mackler spent.
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State Government Legislature could give attorney general authority to crack down on protesters
The state attorney general would have authority to file criminal charges against protesters under legislation introduced for a special session of the General Assembly, overstepping local district attorneys general.
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State Government House, Senate committees pass COVID-19 liability protections
Senate committees are set to consider competing legislation Tuesday dealing with COVID-19 liability immunity and the punishment of protesters in the Legislature’s special session.
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State Government Rep. Miller erupts at House Leader for ‘spit’ on law enforcement comment
Democratic lawmaker called the House’s Republican leader a “liar” for saying those who voted against a legislative crackdown on protesters support spitting on law enforcements officers.
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State Government Legislature passes bill to protect businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday, Aug. 12, setting a "higher bar" for people to sue businesses, schools and healthcare facilities accused of making them sick through negligence.
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State Government Akbari: Anti-protest bill ‘ludicrous’ for making illegal camping a felony
Legislation making camping on restricted state property a felony is “ludicrous,” state Sen. Raumesh Akbari said as the Legislature wrapped up a special session designed, in part, to stop “lawless” activity and send protesters packing.
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State Government Anti-protest bill clears Legislature amid honking and shouting
Legislation to toughen penalties for protesters around the Capitol passed the Legislature Wednesday, including a provision making illegal camping on state property a felony offense.
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Elections Harris attacks DeBerry for stance in favor of protest bill
Democratic candidate Torrey Harris fired a shot at state Rep. John DeBerry in the state House District 90 race, criticizing his support of legislation designed to crack down on protesters statewide and around the Capitol.
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State Government Lee Administration to nix student wellness-check program before it starts
Feeling heat from state lawmakers, parents and school districts, the Lee Administration is reversing a massive plan for school districts to conduct “welfare checks” on every child in the state because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Premium
State GovernmentAnalysis: Special session displays growing rift among legislators
While some Republicans shied away from the notion they were targeting protesters with legislation toughening penalties for rowdiness, Democrats said the GOP-controlled Legislature put a "knee on their neck" during the 111th General Assembly second extraordinary special session.
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State Government Akbari to give keynote speech at Democratic National Convention
State Sen. Raumesh Akbari will give a keynote speech Tuesday, Aug. 18, with 16 other “rising stars” at the Democratic National Convention.
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State Government Hamilton County state representative hospitalized with COVID-19
State Rep. Mike Carter, who missed last week's legislative special session, has been hospitalized with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit at a Chattanooga hospital.
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State Government State sued over vote to remove Nathan Bedford Forrest bust
The lawsuit asks the Davidson County Chancery Court to declare the Capitol Commission’s recent vote to remove the Forrest bust “null and void.”
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State Government Fulmer: Vols could play at Neyland with 25% capacity
When Southeastern Conference teams begin playing a 10-game conference-only schedule Sept. 26, the University of Tennessee Volunteers could play football in Neyland Stadium this season with only 25,000 fans.
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Elections Akbari joins ‘rising stars’ to back Biden in DNC keynote
State Sen. Raumesh Akbari concentrated on women’s issues in her portion of the keynote address backing Joe Biden in a virtual Democratic National Convention Tuesday night, Aug. 18.
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Education Like Shelby County, COVID-19 reporting among schools statewide is random
School districts throughout the state are taking different approaches to reporting COVID-19 cases. Some are prepared to notify parents and the public about outbreaks, while others are only notifying the parents of children who may have come into contact with a positive case.
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Education No provisions in place to alert general public to COVID-19 cases in schools
The Shelby County Health Department is not tracking the number of COVID-19 cases in the schools nor is it requiring schools to report cases.
Related: Like Shelby County, COVID-19 reporting among schools statewide is random
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State Government Sons of Confederate Veterans claim State Capitol Commission has no authority over Forrest bust
A Sons of Confederate Veterans lawsuit against the state contends the State Capitol Commission has no authority over the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest and that a vote to relocate it should be “null and void.”
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State Government Elected official recuperating after catching COVID-19
House Minority Leader Karen Camper is recuperating at her Memphis home under the care of a physician after contracting COVID-19.
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State Government Governor says he now wants to make school COVID figures public
Gov. Bill Lee is shifting positions on releasing COVID-19 figures in schools, saying he wants to make the information public and is seeking federal approval.
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State Government Lee, Akbari defend ‘child wellbeing’ proposal despite reversal
Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Democratic state Sen. Raumesh Akbari are defending a defunct proposal by the Tennessee Department of Education for “child wellbeing checks” at homes statewide while some lawmakers call the program “overreach.”
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